Ex-Youth Worker Who Abused Teens Not Violated: Judge

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Convicted sex predator Beverly Allard's rights were not violated because of the length of time she was charged or because her attorney only knew the victim was facing serious charges when she testified, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Judge Lisa Silver said the statutory rights of William Roper, a former youth worker who had a long-term relationship with one of his charges at Hull House, had not been breached.

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Silver said Ellard's trial was not affected by the more than two-decade delay between police learning of the charges against him and the charges filed in 2022.

Allard confessed to police in 1998, but was not charged because his victim refused to cooperate. In 2021, he spoke to the officers.

A Crown Court judge said that the fact that defense counsel did not know the appellant had outstanding charges at the time of giving evidence did not affect his rights.

“I don't think the dismissal of the charges is relevant to the case against Mr. Allard,” Silver said.

Allard's attorney, Dale Knisley, asked Silver to declare a mistrial or stay the charges in his case, but he argued that his victim should disclose the outstanding charges, including aggravated assault, when the Crown testifies before sentencing. against him.

Knicely said it was only after his client was convicted that he learned the 47-year-old victim had charges pending.

He expressed concern that the witness's testimony had been tampered with because the charges against him were dropped after only three days, giving the impression that he had been rewarded for testifying against Allard.

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But in a letter to the court, Crown Attorney General Peter McKenzie said the charges were dropped because there was no likelihood of a conviction.

Silber also heard arguments from prosecutors Donna Spaner and Melissa Bond that the Crown had no obligation to disclose that a witness was in custody on outstanding charges.

Bond noted that when he entered the courtroom from the cells, it was clear that appellant was in custody because he could have easily asked the courtroom from the cells why he was behind bars.

Allard was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor for years of sexual intercourse with a young boy in his care, starting at the age of 14.

He was convicted in part based on a statement he gave to Edmonton police in 1998, eight years after he began the affair.

In that statement, Allard told the officer she felt like Ms. Robinson, the fictional character in the 1967 film The Graduate. In the film, Dustin Hoffman plays a college graduate who is seduced by an older woman played by Anne Bancroft.

“I wasn't sure if it was my stupid, selfish, Mrs. Robinson ego running around in my head, or if it just felt so good to be with someone who thought I was cute. Allard said at that time.

Silver will make a decision on the sentence next month.

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